The
word Karaite comes from the Hebrew word Karaim, meaning readers. Karaim are
Jews who adhere only to the Tanach, i.e. the Scriptures, but not to rabbinic
Judaism, which includes the Talmud and many other interpretations of the
Scriptures. This sect was founded in the 8th century by Anan ben
David in Persia, now Iran. At first the group were called Ananites. After
the 9th century they were called Karaites. Thereafter they
produced great literature in Arabic and Hebrew. However, opposition from the
rabbinic establishment reduced their numbers severely.

Karaites
adhere only to the reading of the text of the Bible and therefore
distinguish themselves from rabbinic Judaism.

It has
been estimated that there are about 50,000 Karaim worldwide. The majority
live in Israel and are concentrated around Beersheba and Ashdod.
The Karaim have a High Priest, a Kohen Gadol. They regard Jerusholayim as
their Holy City where Kanie al Kumin founded the Karaite “congregation of
the Roses” around 880.

Rabbinic
law is based on the oral tradition of the Jews. Karaites reject the oral
tradition because it is not mentioned in the Tanach. They assume that the
entire Torah was written during the lifetime of Moses and Joshua and
therefore there is no other sacred scripture. They further believe that the
Oral Law takes away the plain meaning of the text and that it contradicts
the text of the Torah at times.

Since
the Rabbis of the Mishnah and Gemorah disagreed with one another, the
Karaites conclude that these rabbinical opinions cannot be the word of God
as God does not contradict himself (I agree). Finally, the Karaites will not
believe that the Oral Law was remembered by anyone until it was written
down.

The
Karaites also object to the elevation of rabbinic opinion above the Torah
and the observance of customs and traditions not found in the Torah.

Karaites
refrain from sexual relations on the Shabbat, which gives rise to the
following story: “A Jewish man asked a Roman Catholic priest whether sex
is work and must be avoided on the Sabbath. The priest said that it is work
and cannot be performed on Sunday. Remembering that the priest is a
celibate, the man asked a Protestant minister the same question. The
minister agreed with the priest and nixed sex on Sunday. So the Jewish man
remembered that for Jews the Sabbath is on Saturday and finally asked a
rabbi about this. The rabbi disagreed with the priest and minister and
guaranteed that sex is not work and therefore could be done on Shabbat. The
man wanted to know how the rabbi could deliver such a guarantee. Said the
rabbi: “If sex were work, my wife would have hired someone to do it for
her.”

Karaites
do not use Tefillin. In accord with the sentence in Deuteronomy, i.e.
Devarim 6:5-9 which commands that one “bind them (these words) for a sign
upon your hand and frontlets between your eyes,” the Karaites say that one
cannot literally reach the heart and therefore the commandment is only
metaphorical. For the same reason, Karaites do not place a Mezuza on the
doorframes of their houses.

There
is one Karaite synagogue in the United States, located in Daly City,
Calfornia.